Racing: Vonusti ready for 1600m

Vonusti should be hard to beat in the Bayley's Japan New Zealand Trophy tomorrow. Photo / Supplied

Tim Carter is happy to admit he's always been a little bit fooled by Vonusti.

The Cambridge co-trainer is hoping tomorrow's $100,000 Bayley's Japan New Zealand Trophy will balance up the books a little.

Carter says the stable has always rated Vonusti a natural 1600m type.

On paper that runs a little counter to the fact the vast majority of Vonusti's $752,588 has been won in 1200m sprints.

To be fair to Carter the biggest part of that came when Vonusti caused a real upset in winning the $1 million The Oaks Stud Telegraph at Trentham in January.

"He's only had the four starts at 1600m and he's done pretty well," said Carter yesterday.

Vonusti finished fourth in tomorrow's race last year, when not the qualified horse he is currently.

He was badly hampered when seventh over 1600m at Ellerslie, won over the distance at Hastings and finished a strong sixth in Wall Street's Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton.

"That Riccarton run was a top effort," said Carter.

After his stunning Telegraph win, Vonusti went to the group one Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa and finished an ordinary ninth.

"He just doesn't seem to be able to handle the Te Rapa track," says Carter.

"That's the second time he's run there and he just doesn't seem to hit out.

"I thought he would like Te Rapa because he likes some cut in the ground, but he obviously doesn't like it shifty."

Armed with the knowledge that the below-par run was simply a dislike of Te Rapa, the Carter stable fancied Vonusti's chances over 1200m at Ellerslie at the recent carnival and it took a superb effort by Beautiful Girl in startling time to keep him out by a short head.

Everything points to a big run over 1600m tomorrow.

Carter says Vonusti is not a horse the stable can get a complete guide on through trackwork.

"He doesn't rip off fantastic times in training, but I have to say we've been very happy with the way he's been working - more than satisfactory."

They are a mixed lot opposing Vonusti. The best of them looks to be stablemates Irish Opera and Irish Colleen, along with Ruud Van Slaats and Keffiya.

Irish Opera ran a 1:34.17 1600m to distance his opposition by nearly five lengths at Ellerslie on the final day of the carnival.

This is a better field, but he drops from 57.5kg to 56kg and although drawn wide he has the tactical speed to get across to where he needs to be early.

Irish Colleen races well at Tauranga and should be improved for her unplaced run behind Obsession at Ellerslie last start.

Ruud Van Slaats did well to be only two lengths from Tavistock in the Waikato Draught and was hampered by the 58kg when third to Obsession at Ellerslie since.

She drops to 56kg and that 2kg could be critical.

Sir Slick makes his predictable appearance.

To be fair to him he was taken on fiercely in the lead at Trentham last Saturday and was still only 3.75 lengths from Wall Street under 57.5kg. He has a great Tauranga record - 11 starts for five wins and two placings.

Lance Noble is confident Geeza's summer form is only a temporary glitch.

The Matamata trainer re-produces Geeza in tomorrow's Morton Estate Sparkling 1200 and is looking for something better.

Better, that is, than the -035 formline Geeza could put together in his last preparation.

Geeza showed so much as a late 3-year-old that he was taken to the Brisbane winter carnival last year with no small expectations.

"He had a few hard runs there and even though we spelled him there before we brought him back, I think it may have taken him a little time to get over that trip," said Noble yesterday.

Not that Geeza was hopeless in his three starts last preparation.

He finished third to talented mare Beautiful Girl at Ellerslie after an interrupted run mid-race then was only two lengths off Wealth Princess when fifth in the Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Noble sees the break since as a huge benefit.

"Also the easing of the tracks this week has been a help."

Geeza comes into tomorrow's race on a massively advantageous level in the weights - he will carry just 50.5kg by being ridden by apprentice Alvin Ng.

From the rails draw he's right in contention.

Topweight Pindy will have 2kg taken off his 58kg topweight, but will still have to concede Geeza 5.5kg. He is a Tauranga course winner and is still right in the race.

Run Like Al has also been freshened since failing in the Thorndon Mile behind Wall Street.

He had been in fabulous form and even though he will carry 58kg topweight, he still rates on class.

The blowout runner could be Pinsoir, who is better than his form suggests.

FEATURE EVENT

* Tim Carter believes Vonusti is probably at his best over this 1600m distance.
* Three starts back Vonusti won the $1 million Telegraph at Trentham.
* He was subsequently well beaten in the Waikato Draught Sprint, but Carter says the horse doesn't handle Te Rapa.